By Ann Cowan
When I first heard about the Freedom of Choice Act in a passing conversation, I thought, "Freedom, choice, that sounds pretty all-American to me."
After I did some research on this bill, however, I realized the irony in the name "Freedom of Choice."
This bill, cleverly disguised as a bill that upholds part of the American dream, is actually a wolf in sheep's clothing for two reasons.
First of all the name of the act does not indicate what is being chosen.
Secondly, FOCA actually takes away choice.
The purpose of FOCA is to take away a set of the current laws, rules, and regulations on abortion.
Among the laws that would be abolished are the national ban on partial birth abortion, the law that all abortions must be performed by a professional, and the parental notification laws for girls under 18 that are still being upheld in some states.
There are also two laws that would be eroded by FOCA that are currently upheld in order to ensure freedom of choice.
The first of these is a law that is upheld by some states that requires that women seeking abortions receive certain information, such as fetal development facts and alternatives to abortion, and wait a specified period before the abortion is actually performed, usually 24 to 48 hours.
This means that abortionists will not be required in any state to give a woman information that is important in her decision about whether or not to have an abortion.
What good is the right to choose if one is not given all of the information needed to make an honest decision? FOCA does not support a woman's right to choose.
FOCA will also nullify laws that allow doctors, nurses, other state-licensed professionals, hospitals, or other health-care providers to refuse to participate in abortions because of ethical and/or moral beliefs.
The abolition of these laws that protect the right of health care professionals to choose to stand up for their beliefs and not participate in something they believe is wrong is a hideous crime against freedom of choice.
In addition, FOCA will also make it possible for American tax dollars to go towards funding abortions.
Once again, this would be forcing people to support abortions. Don't be fooled by this bill's innocent name. FOCA is not about freedom and choice.
This bill is about depriving women, health care professionals and the unborn of their rights to freedom and true choice.
?Ann Cowan is a freshman ?nursing major.
